VARIATION IN EFFECTS OF FRAGMENTATION ON THE WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE (PEROMYSCUS LEUCOPUS) DURING THE BREEDING SEASON

The effects of fragmentation may be variable for species that have seasonal patterns of density and reproduction. We tested whether the effects of fragment size and habitat on reproduction and density varied over the course of the breeding season for the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus). The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of mammalogy 2006-02, Vol.87 (1), p.117-123
Main Authors: Wilder, Shawn M., Meikle, Douglas B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal ethology
Animal nesting
Animal populations
Animal reproduction
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autumn
Biological and medical sciences
Biotic factors
Breeding
Breeding seasons
Demecology
density–area relationship
Edge effects
FEATURE ARTICLES
Forest habitats
fragment size
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Habitat fragmentation
Habitats
Litter
Mammalia
Mammalogy
Mice
Peromyscus leucopus
Population density
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Rodents
Spring
Vertebrata
Zoology
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Summary:The effects of fragmentation may be variable for species that have seasonal patterns of density and reproduction. We tested whether the effects of fragment size and habitat on reproduction and density varied over the course of the breeding season for the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus). The relative density of mice changed; in small fragments densities were lower in spring, similar during the midsummer lull, and higher in autumn than in large fragments. Large fragments displayed the bimodal pattern of litter production previously reported for P. leucopus, but small fragments showed a relatively constant number of litters among spring, lull, and autumn reproductive periods. Although no differences were found between edge and interior habitats in density, litter production, and reproductive effort during spring and lull periods, all were higher in edge than interior habitats during autumn. Changes in effects of fragment size and habitat may be mediated by the influence of fragmentation on seasonally important abiotic and biotic factors.
ISSN:0022-2372
1545-1542
DOI:10.1644/05-MAMM-A-035R1.1